Helen Charles, a farmer from Dominica, has embarked on a journey of recovery and resilience after Hurricane Maria devastated her family farm in 2017. Helen, who returned to Dominica after working as an accountant in the UK, aimed to continue her father's legacy by managing their coffee, citrus, poultry, and pig farm. Despite labor challenges during peak seasons, she successfully produced significant quantities of coffee and citrus fruits.
The hurricane caused extensive damage across Dominica, with the agricultural sector suffering losses estimated at $179.6 million. Helen's farm was severely affected, losing two pig pens and 80% of its fruit trees. "It was a struggle to come to terms with the reality of what had happened: years of hard work and investment wiped away in an instant," Helen remarked.
Support came through the Emergency Agricultural Livelihoods and Climate Resilience Project, a collaboration between the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica and the World Bank. This initiative provided resources for rebuilding pig housing and addressing waste disposal issues on Helen's farm. The new structures are designed with climate resilience in mind to withstand future challenges.
"As a small-scale farmer, I would not have been able to recover without this support," said Helen. She now employs four people on her farm and is optimistic about expanding operations. With construction nearing completion, she looks forward to transforming her farm into a thriving business that benefits both her family and the community.
The project has supported over 3,700 farmers in Dominica by providing essential farming equipment and materials for livestock activities. It has restored more than 4,500 hectares of cropland while introducing climate-resilient technologies to help farmers mitigate climate change impacts.
In response to food security concerns in 2022, the project granted aid to over 3,200 farmers to enhance local agricultural production. These efforts have significantly contributed to improving food security across Dominica.